Sources: Gates To Tap Roughead as Next Head of U.S. Navy
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has recommended to U.S. President Bush that Adm. Gary Roughead, head of Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., is his choice to become the next chief of naval operations, according to Pentagon officials.

In June, the president nominated current CNO Adm. Mike Mullen to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mullen's confirmation hearing is set for Tuesday. Defense Department officials, who spoke on the condition anonymity because the official announcement has yet to be made, said Roughead was Gates' choice in a field of candidates that included U.S. Pacific Command chief Adm. Timothy Keating, Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Robert Willard and U.S. Southern Command head Adm. James Stavridis.

Roughead took over Fleet Forces Command from Adm. John Nathman in May. Previously, Roughead served as commander of the Pacific Fleet in Hawaii, where he helped improve unilateral relations with nations in the region, including China.

If approved by the Senate, Roughead would become the third consecutive surface warfare officer to head the Navy. Roughead has extensive command experience and has worked with Congress, serving as the head of the Navy's office of legislative affairs. He is a 1973 U.S. Naval Academy graduate and served early in his career as executive officer on two patrol gunboats.

In a recent interview with the Navy League's Seapower magazine, Roughead said submarine warfare is his top priority at Fleet Forces Command. He explained antisubmarine warfare is a "very perishable skill" that requires continued exercises to maintain and improve capabilities.

Roughead also told Seapower that in light of budgetary constraints in the coming years, the Navy must make "hard decisions" about what capabilities the sea service needs in the future.

With Roughead's likely departure from Fleet Forces Command, it remains to be seen who will be picked to replace him in Norfolk.

Those familiar with the admiralty say Vice Adm. Jonathan Greenert could earn a fourth star and take over at Fleet Forces. Sources tell Navy Times that Adm. Robert Willard, commander of Pacific Fleet, does not want to leave Hawaii, where he took over for Roughead in May. Due to a number of Navy four-stars heading joint commands, the pool of available four-star admirals is "not very deep," said one Navy source, who requested anonymity when discussing speculative personnel moves.
Brilliant! Let's get one of the biggest "panda huggers" in the Navy to be in charge of the Navy!